Mahalaya Paksha starts on Friday 20th September and it ends on Friday 4th October in 2013. The Krishna Paksha dark fortnight of Ashwini Month/Aswayuja (September–October) is known as Mahalaya Paksha. Mahalaya Paksha is also called as Pitra Amavasya or Pitrulaya Amavasya. Tarpan during the auspicious Mahalaya Paksha will bless your ancestors and will free them from all their sins. Donating food is considered to be the greatest charity of all the charities. Mahalaya Paksha begins with the full moon day (Purnima) that occurs immediately after the Ganesh festival and ending with the new moon day known as Sarvapitri amavasya, Apart from this Shraadh is also performed on the birth star of the dead person and also on the nakshatra the person died. If death anniversary of ancestors are not known or forgotten then those Shraadh can be performed on this Mahalaya Amavasya.

The male who performs the shraddha should take a purifying bath should wear a dhoti. The shraddha involves pinda-daan, which is an offering to the ancestors of pindaa's. shradda should be performed in front of a brahmin. Pindam (It is done by combing the wheat flour, water and milk). The total pindaa's will be six. they are three large and three small. Dharba grass is made like a ring and it is weared to the middle finger. Gingelly (Thil/Nuvvulu), vermilon (kumkum), turmeric, flowers, akshintalu pour on the pindaa's while chanting the names of the dead people like grand father, forefathers like last three generations. Then the pindaa's will be released in to the rivers, lakes. After the pindaa pradana take a bath in the river. Some sweets are made in home and it is given as nivedya. Donating food, vegetables, rice, grains, clothes on this day will be graceful.

Mahalaya Paksha Shraadh Dates in 2013 are:

September 20 : Mahalya Pitru Paksha begins

September 21 : Dwitiya Shraadh

September 22 : Tritiya Shraadh

September 23 : Chaturthi Shraadh

September 24 : Panchami Shraadh

September 25 : Shasti Shraadh

September 26 : Saptami Shraadh

September 27 : Ashtami Shraadh

September 28 : Navami Shraadh

September 29 : Dasami Shraadh

October 30 : Ekadashi Shraadh

October 1 : Dwadashi Shraadh

October 2 : Trayodashi Shraadh

October 3 : Chaturdashi Shraadh

October 4 : Mahalaya Amavasya (Important)

Shraadh Time:

Daytime is divided into 5 equal parts as follows (assuming sunrise at 6 a.m. and sunset at 6 p.m.):

Praatha – 06:00 to 08:24

Sanghava – 08:25 to 10:48

Maadhyaanha – 10:49 to 13:12

Aparaanha – 13:13 to 15:36

Saayankaal – 15:37 to 18:00

On Amavasyas Shraadh is done to forefathers by Brahmin's whose father has died earlier. Nowadays a short 20 minute version of the ceremony is done then offering black sesame and water as oblation to departed souls. Olden days naivedya preparation Started earlier at 5 am and tarpanam given at Aparaanha time.